Brooke can’t keep up with Big Red

April 10, 2014

WELLSBURG - There's no specific cure for recovering from a bad day at the plate.

Quick rest is the best remedy, though. The shorter the better.

"That's the best thing about baseball," said Steubenville coach Fred Heatherington. "You don't have time to sit on your win or swallow your loss.

Article Photos

SLIDE — Brooke’s Russell Schwertfeger dives into third base, undeneath the tag of Steubenville’s Devin Ferguson during their game on Wednesday. Schwertfeger was called safe. Big Red topped the Bruins 14-4. -- Matthew Peaslee

In Big Red's case, coming back from a one-hit shut out loss on Tuesday, finding its stroke quickly against Brooke helped put to bed a poor showing less than 24 hours earlier.

Steubenville topped the Bruins, 14-4, in five innings on Wednesday at the Brooke High athletic complex.

"What a difference a day makes," Heatherington said. "We talked the other night and said, 'Hey, we have to be ready to go tomorrow.' That's it."

Big Red (3-2) scored in every inning but the fourth and batted around in the fifth for its most dominating win of the season.

"If we can put the ball in play and get on base, then we put pressure on the defense," Heatherington said.

Brooke actually led 3-1 after the first inning, but Big Red rallied for a four-run inning in the third. Anthony Zorne led off with a single, Justin Corsi doubled and Kai McClurg drove in a run to make the score, 3-2.

After Brandon Jones struck out, Lucas Herrington ripped his second single of the day and brought home Corsi. McClurg scored on Niko Petrides' double, then Devin Ferguson played Herrington on a single.

"They started to hit the ball a little harder," said Brooke coach Ron Ujcich. "At the same time, they shouldn't be in that position because we don't make the plays to get out of the inning.

"They're getting the extra base hits and any time you allow that to happen with a good hitting team, they'll take advantage."

The Bruins (6-3) got to Big Red pitcher Zorne early as the first two batters in the bottom of the first, Russell Schwertfeger and Kelan Welch, walked. Heath Hildredth then brought in a run with a double and Nick Ossman followed with an RBI single before Chad Harper's RBI sacrifice fly to establish Brooke's early lead.

"Anthony struggled a bit in the beginning and Brooke did well at the plate," Heatherington said. "But he settled down and was himself. The defense played well behind him and we played a solid all-around game."

Zorne didn't allow a hit the rest of the game, struck out eight batters and walked just one more.

In the top of the fifth, Steubenville took advantage of four walks, two hit batters and two errors to plate eight runs and gain an eventual 10-run lead.

Corsi finished with two singles, a double and an RBI; Herrington had two singles and two RBIs; Petrides ripped a double with two RBIs and Ferguson finished with two singles and an RBI.

"We kind of handed it to them," Ujcich said. "We're a much better defensive team than that. We were just giving runs away."

David Hardisty took the loss for the Bruins, who play at Wheeling Park today. Cody Wales, Hunter Grishkevich and Harper also pitched.

"It's never easy to see," Ujcich said of the lopsided loss. "We'll bounce back. We'll be there ready to play."